The End

Learn and Play was a fantastic experience for me and I'm sorry that it's at an end. Not only did I explore many fun sites (Letter James and StumbleUpon for example) and tools (Delicious), I was 'forced' to learn common tricks of website usage/organization/manipulation in order to function in those sites.

With my new-found computer skills (thanks to my co-workers who showed me the way) I am much more comfortable exploring other tools/sites. It's a special thrill to be able to recommend websites or discuss tools with my techie sons! My "huh?" look will less frequently be due to computer issues.

I think Learn and Play is so valuable it should be a required class for all new reference staff and optional to all staff. Learn and Play makes us a smarter, more effective workforce.

I liked the format and the amount of time that was given to complete the tasks; the experience would have been stressful if the time limit was more stringent. I would definitely sign up for similar programs.

Thanks for the opportunity to learn!


more animals

MOLDI

MOLDI - yes it is (apparently CRAPI was already taken - not to be flip but the site is poorly designed). HOWEVER it is nice to have access to downloadable audiobooks. Once one gets past the moldy interface, including the sometimes frustrating search for available titles, this tool speedily downloads to non-iPod devices.

Oh, excuse me, what's that you say? You CAN download to an iPod? Well, yes but with a huge caveat: iPod and iPhone customers using the Overdrive Download Stations (ODS) for MP3 titles must set their device and iTunes on their home computer to manual sync before using the ODS. Failure to do this will wipe out any music or video on their Apple device (though the files can be restored from their home computer).

Oh poop!

Maybe that's not a huge roadblock for technogeeks but it's a daunting task for newbies to geek gadgets and it reinforces the perception that the world of technology is still too hard and user unfriendly for the uninitiated. Playaway anyone?

In Case You Missed It - Barack Obama speech - Oct. 29, 2008

Podcasts

Maybe it's a generational thing but I'm not particularly interested in podcasts. I do listen to some on NPR but I don't add them to my blog or download them to my iPod 'cause I want to pick and choose what I want to hear. My iGoogle and My Yahoo pages are set up to show by title the most recent NPR podcasts, which is an easy way for this visual learner to decide if I want to listen. For example, I usually love Fresh Air with Terry Gross but I'm not interested in every single interview she does; I am a picky listener.

That said, I can see where there is a niche market for themed podcasts, from RVers to book enthusiasts. But as far as my own interests are concerned the only podcasts I'd be interested in listening to on a regular basis are Car Talk and This American Life.

I don't think podcasts are the best way for libraries to communicate with the public unless it's to act as a link to book readings.

YouTube

Boy howdy, YouTube is fun! It's also a huge time waster if one browses aimlessly. I most frequently end up on YouTube when someone sends an email ("You've got to watch this!") to a goofy or poignant video or when I've missed a clip from SNL (Tina Fey as Sarah Palin) or Meet the Press (Colin Powell endorsing Obama).

For this 20th 'thing', I entered "Vastards" in the search box hoping to find a clip from my son's a capella group of three years ago. It was a shot in the dark but, voila, there was one video from the original group posted on YouTube. Yay! (He's the tall, handsome one wearing a tie.)



YouTube is easy to use and has an amazing variety of content. I had a library customer who was looking for professional level DVDs explaining HVAC procedures. CML doesn't own anything but I found short detailed clips on YouTube. The customer was very happy with that option.

CML's Toolbox

After perusing several choices in the CML Toolbox, I concentrated on StumbleUpon, an online application that "discovers web sites based on your interests, learns what you like, and brings you more". Though not truly serendipitous, browsing StumbleUpon does generate the excitement of discovery with the possibility of unknown 'treasure' waiting at the next click of the mouse.

Thus far I've added three sites from StumbleUpon to my list on Delicious and I know I'll find many more - or at least waste lots of time searching with that possibility in mind.

Loved This One - Discovering Web 2.0 tools

Wow! So many great sites, so little time. I used the "short list" to search the winners of the Web 2.0 Awards and so far I've found four sites that I've added to my list on Delicious. Though there are many great sites, the one I'll recommend at work is LiveMocha (honorable mention on the Education list). As the New York Times describes it, Live Mocha is "A powerful opportunity for people around the world to connect with language partners". One can connect with native speakers around the world and improve at your own pace with free online lessons. The key word here is free.

I wanted to recommend Spanish Pod (third in the Education catagory) but it's costs range from $5.00 up to $29.00 a month and $125.00 at the executive level. I listened to a demo of a lesson and REALLY liked it; I would definitely recommend the site for those who could afford it. Spanish Pod does have a free RSS lesson feed that is worth exploring. There are also lessons in Chinese, French and Italian.